Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Little John on September 29, 2009, 11:39:04 pm
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Just wondering if any one has planted or pondered planting a stand of osage trees for future profit or for posterity. Looks like if someone had a little chunk of land and wanted to do the work he could soon have an osage forest, just keep pruned and watered and in 15-20 years could have hundreds of premium staves. I might do just a few as not really enough water to do a bunch. I think they can stand northern or southern climates. Kenneth
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The trees I planted from seed 5 years ago and the trees are already big enough to make bows. These trees can grow frighteningly fast!
-Alan
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Do they grow in extreme NW Minnesota?
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How about S Florida with no real freeze?
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What about sandy areas?...Ive got some land to plant but its pretty sandy stuff
-Ky
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Hi All
I live in the UK and have started to grow osage, most are only about 18 inches high, so I have a while to go before I have bow staves. The winter frost kills about 3 inches of each branch tip, but this does not stop it from regrowing in the spring. The plan is to get it established in the UK but at this stage I am not sure how well it will do in our climate. I would be interested to know if any mature osage is growing here?
PS There is an intersting thread on paleo plannet about growing trees/bow wood.
Peter.
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Well, I looked up Maclura pomifera (Osage Orange) and found that it grows in USDA Hardiness zones 5-9. I'm in zone 2-3. Maybe I could graft a stem onto a tree root that's hardy for our area.
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I planted 170 trees. ;D Not all trees are created equal. It grows different in different climates and the density/quality of the wood is different.
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i've been planteing in the soil around creeks and rivers. it seems to like it here quite well in central al. it grows like crazy 1 hr. south of me and north al. i see a future were the big fruits fall in a FLOODED CREEK, GET SWEPT DOWN FARTHEr and start all over again. sometimes i'll drive with my window down aND TOSS OUT SEEDS IN GOOD LOOKING SPOTS.
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so where can a fella get a handful of osage seeds?
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Hi Peter,
I bought an osage sapling from MarkinEngland, and it's now up to about 5 feet. Growing well in my overcrowded back garden. I'll give it another 5-10 years and there might be something useful there ;D
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Get the seeds from those green "hedge apples" you see on em. They seem to grow darn well in Kansas and Arkansas.
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whats your address and i'll send you a orange
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remember everybody, if osage does grow well when you transplant it it can quickly take over. it grows like weeds in east tex and can ruin pastures in a hurry. all those thorns and tennis balls can get real annoying if planted close to your yard. just a few things to keep in mind :)
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I've got probally the only two growing in Central Florida, next to the Ipe tree. The Osage is 4 years old and not much taller than the 24"when I planted it. Lots of fertilizer and rain but not much growth. I think it's too hot here.
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Wade gave me two osage saplings at the 2008 camp-o-rama. I planted both but only one survived. ??? That one has done well this first year after it's transplanting and I expect it to do well from now on...right next to the creek in well drained soil. It better hurry up if I'm gonna make a bow in my lifetime. I don't believe I can make 20 years but probably 10! ;D
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Eddie.....they grow here in the 120 degree heat....but they grow very slow also...can't barely distinguish the Rings in Panhandle Osage! Hey you want to talk about slow growing....that Boo that you sent Me....grew two new Shoots this Year....it's a whole of 29 inches tall....and I now have 7 shoots....I don't believe I will be making Arrows from it in My Lifetime...... ::)
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Hi Bob
Long time no see!!!!!
I have one of Marks original sapling growing in my garden it is about 6 feet to the tip of the tallest branch, trunk/stem is about 1 inch. Looks to be growing quite, well so have high hopes that Osage will do well here.
Hows the bow making going? Hope to see you at a shoot some day.
Peter (UK)
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Hedge trees are overunning my neighbor's pastures.
Most are pretty shrubby tho... I find the best ones for bows grow in the woods where they need to be straight to get the sun light.
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I planted a lot of osage years ago. I would first sprout the seeds in a planter box, transfer the seedlings to a gallon pot and let the seedlings grow for a year. The crooked and twisted seedlings would be pretty obvious after a year of growth. I would keep the straight saplings and discard the rest. I sold and gave away a lot of saplings while I was interested in producing seedlings, but I burned out on the process after a few years.
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Hi Bob
Long time no see!!!!!
I have one of Marks original sapling growing in my garden it is about 6 feet to the tip of the tallest branch, trunk/stem is about 1 inch. Looks to be growing quite, well so have high hopes that Osage will do well here.
Hows the bow making going? Hope to see you at a shoot some day.
Peter (UK)
Hi Peter,
Yes, its been a while, hope you are well. Sounds like your osage is doing better than mine then, but I kept mine in a container for the first couple of years to avoid the frosts of winter. It has been planted out for 3 years or so now, and is flourishing. I think I'll give it a few years yet then ;) I havent made a lot of bows, but my latest is a BBO recurve, my first non-straight limbed bow. You can see it over on the "Build Alongs and How-Tos" section, see:
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,14045.0.html
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Eddie, it grows here with super hot temps and no rain so it should grow there. Try it in different soil. Or maybe it is too young for Florida. Its too bad it wont grow old up north then migrate down to see you like the people do. ;)